Emergency tire truck



Aug. 19, 1952 v. DAY

EMERGENCY TIRE TRUCK Filed Aug. 12, 1947 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 ILIVILI llllll l hh INVENTOR. LUTHER V. DAY

ATTO FPNE'Y A g- 19, 1952 v. DAY 2,607,607

\ EMERGENCY TIRE TRUCK Filed Aug. '12, 1947 2 SHEETSSHEE'I 2 w l w INVENTOR. FIG. 5 EUTHER V DAY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 19, 1952 EMERGENCY TIRE 'mtUcK corporation of Kentucky Application August 12, 1947, Serial No. 768,212

This invention relates generally to devices which are utilized as tire substitutes to permit operation of a wheeled vehicle in the event that one of its pneumatic tires is accidentally deflated or punctured. More specifically, the present invention relates to improvements in the type of device commonly known as-a dolly.

Often driver of automobiles or trucks have the misfortune of getting a punctured tire when they are remote from a garage or service station. Although the driver'of an automobile can usually change the flat tire by replacing it with a spare tire, carried for that purpose, occasionallythis remedy is either undesirable or unavailable. For example, many women drivers cannot change tires on an automobile; often a truck driver does not carry the necessary equipment which is required for changing tires; the spare tire may have been previously punctured and not yet repaired; the driver cannot or does not want to bother replacing the tire.

In any of the examples given, the driver must either attempt to obtain assistance, which may be a long time in coming, or he may attempt to travel on the deflated tire, thereby-injuring the tire.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a device which will permit the vehicle to be driven without injury to the punctured tire, thereby making it possible for the driver to reach a garage or service station where the tire may be repaired. V

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which can be utilized without the use of any tools or additional equipment.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character described, which is adapted to raise the wheel of a vehicle and thus maintain and carry the deflated tire above the road surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a. device which is adapted to conform to changes in the direction of movement of the vehicle so as to permit proper steering of the vehicle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is sturdily and simply constructed.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent during the course of the following description and with reference to the annexed drawings forming a part thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same,

, 1 Claim. (01. 280-61) Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a dolly embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the dolly, with certain portions broken away to more clearly show the mounting arrangement of the front wheel of the dolly. Y

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the dolly.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental side elevation of the dolly with the skirt removed to show details of the front wheel structure.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2 and showing the outline of a tire as supported by the dolly.

The dolly, which is designated generally by the numeral I, has a U-shaped tubular frame 2, the midportion of the U forming the front 3 of the dolly and the legs of the U extending rearwardly to form the sides 4 of the frame.

The ends 5 of the sides are flattened and shaped to form bearing members 6 in which the ends of an axle l are journalled. Two rear wheels Bare mounted for independent rotation on the opposite ends of the axle 1.

In order that the wheel of the automobile or truck may be driven onto the dolly, a ramp 9 is provided between the rear wheels 8 of the dolly, the ramp being fastened to an annular sleeve II] which is rotatably' carried by the axle I and is disposed between the bearing members 6. An auxiliary supporting member I l is fastened to the underside of the ramp 9 in a position normal to the surface of the ramp, so as to engage the road surface'in spaced relationship to a beveled edge I2 of the ramp. Y

The member ll intersects the road surface at an acute angle and in a forward direction so as to retard the tendency of the dolly to move forwardly when the wheel of the vehicleis moving up the ramp 9.

'f As the wheel of the vehicle moves up the ramp,

the weight of the vehicle forces the ramp to rotate from the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 5 to the position shown in dotted lines, the surface of the ramp9 assuming a position tanfgential to the surface of the tire and supporting the rear of the tire and wheel above the road surface.

The front portion of the tire engages and is supported by a plate l3 which is mounted for pivotal movement about a cross-bar l4 which is rigidly secured to each side 4 of the frame '2. When engaged by the tire, the plate I3 is rotated from the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 5 to the position shown in dotted lines.

The cross-bar l4 also serves as a support for one end of a shield l5 which is supported at its other end by a carrier strip I6 which is fastened to each side 4 of the frame 2 ahead'of the wheels 8. The shield [5 has a dual function in that it acts as a secondary support for the wheel of the vehicle if the tire should be of a size small enough i to pass between the ramp 9 and the plate I3, and,

secondly, theshie1d liprevents road obstructions from hitting the tire and possibly jarringlthe wheel of the vehicle out of the dolly I.

In order to make the dolly completely responsive to changes in the direction of travel of the vehicle, a unique mounting structure is provided for a guide wheel ll, which'structure-not'onlyv is conducive to free pivotal movement'of the guide wheel, but also permits the guide wheel I! to be vehi'cle 'which'has a pu-ncture-d'=tire, ;to drive his vehicle to a garage or ser vice station without causing further injury to the tire.

'The mounting of the guide wheel I! provides for .free, non-binding pivotal movement of .the

guide wheel and results in the dolly being quickly and easily. responsive .to changes in the direction =nf1travel o'ftthe vehicle.

of a diameter suificiently large to lprovideifor good road travel while maintaining'the overall height of the frame 2 at a proper level with arespect to the other wheels of the vehicle.

The sides- 4 of the frame 2 are bent as at---l8so as to incline downwardly and 'rearwardly toward the axle l. The front 3 of the frame z is higher than the-height of the rear wheels 8 and the guide wheel I 1 is larger in -dia-nrreter than either of the rear wheels 8.

An anglebracket l9 ismounted on the-front 3 of the-frame as at 20,"and to undersurface- Z l-of the-angle bracket-is welded aking-pinZ-Zwhich extends vertically downward from the frame'2. A thrust bearing 23 is mounted on the king-pin 22 adjacent the undersurface 2! of the angle bracket, and a yoke member 24 is pivotally mounted on the king-pin 22,-being held firmly againsst the thrust bearing 23- by a washer-25 and a-lock nut26 which is threaded onto the king-pin.

"The legs 2'! of the yoke '24 have aligned openings 28 provided therein inwhich are journalled the ends of an axlemember 29. The axle 29 is held in position by an upset head 30 on one end thereof and a nut 3| on the other end'thereof. Theguide wheel I! ismounted on the-axlei29 and is held in spaced relationshipbetween the legs-2'! of the-yoke 24 by annularspacers 3'11.

V The ends of each of the legs 27 of'the-yoke 24 terminate in cylindrical portions-33 whichare adaptedtoretain a-pin '34. The-portions33 are partially cut,awayto provide recesses- 35 which permit a roller in-the formof a ball bearing-36 to be rotatably carried by the pin -.34. The'ball bearings 36 engage and travelupon the fiat'un- I-twill be=notedthat the dolly can be employed,

for the purposeintended, without the use of any additional 'tools or equipment and that it is sturdily constructed so as to retain the vehicle dersurface 38 of an arcuate ribbedtrack 31 which is fastened to each sided of the frame .2 asiat '39.

Thus the guide wheel H is pivotally mounted for rotation about the king-pin -22, andthe-load on tthe wheel :i. is prevented fromcausing -a leverage or'bindingact-ionon the king-pin- ZZ by providing .the additional guide wheel supports on the ends of the yoke legs 21, therebyefiectively supporting the yoke 24 at -three-spaced points. Each of a the rear wheel B -and-the guidewheel I I are provided with anti-friction bearings and each 7 oi the wheels il andll are provided with pneumaticor semi pneumatic tires.

wheel in positive engagement.

-It=is to be understood that-the form of my invention,.herewith shown and described, to.be taken as a preferred example ofthe 'samer-and that'various changes in-theshape, size-and arrangement of parts may be reso rted to-, without departing from thev spirit .of any-invention orlthe scope of the subjoined claim. 7

- Having thus described-my invention, I claim:

-In.o-a-.dolly1for-a yehiclewheel, the combination of a a frame, vehicle wheel supporting members carried Joy-said frame, and: three-wheels forsup: porting theiramegsaidframe at the forward-end thereof having a" depending king-pin,- a one-piece, sheet metal, U shaped' yokecarried 'by :said pin for pivotal movement therearoundin a horizontal plane and carrying awheel thereon, journalledr in the yoke intermediate the endsthereof said iyoke having the closed end .oi": the -U embracingsaid king pin and its free endsextending rearwardly, rollers, said freeends having slotsattheirupper edges to receive said rollers and the said freeends onopposite sidesof the 1 rollers being bentv upon themselves: to form cylindrical bearings receiving supporting shafts fortsaid; rollers, andratrack on saidframeengagedrby-said rollers.

LUTHER V. DAY.

7 A I .iBEFER-ENCESCITED .The-rfoll'owing :references ;are I "of zre'c'ord'tin Z-thB file :oftthis apatent:

UNITED- STATES PATENTS Number :Name -Date $13,626 r Frenchrl lov..l8, 1902 1,482,105 Andrews et al. l J an. 29,1924 1,536,611 -Duke -'-May 5, 1925 1,777-,69 l vllalteman -Oct. 7, 1930 2,350,118 Knapp May. 30, 1-944 FOREIGN .PATENTS Number Country Date 239 Great Britain 'Jan."24, 18.72 163,226 "Switzerland .'Feb.' 18,1924: f :f234,'266 'jGreat' Britain "May 28,1925 

